Sakalli
Freedom to Music
Dio – Live at Donington UK (1983-87) (@256)
01 Jan 2012
(Review from bbc.co.uk)
When former Black Sabbath and Rainbow frontman Ronnie James Dio exploded out of the gate with a formidable new band and a simply awesome new album, he was an artist reborn. The year was 1983 and the band – simply christened Dio – were on fire, as the album – the immaculate, immortal Holy Diver – so ably attested. Rather than become jaded by acrimonious splits with both his former bands, Dio turned his trials into triumphs and when Dio the band arrived on UK shores for the first time, the setting simply couldn’t have been more magnificent.
The 1980s were the Monsters of Rock’s glory years, taking place in Doningtom. In 1983 Dio had their first taste of success. With just one ‘solo’ album to call upon, Dio delved into his illustrious past to assemble a set as replete with metal standards as it was with future classics. Today, Dio tunes such as Stand Up and Shout, Rainbow in the Dark and Holy Diver can hold their own alongside Sabbath’s epic Heaven and Hell or Rainbow’s jaw-dropping set piece Stargazer; in 83 Dio were really throwing down the gauntlet by daring to perform new, untested material back-to-back with songs that’d sold millions. As a result, the band’s Donington 83 set is simply electric.
Even if it hadn’t been a decidedly damp and miserable afternoon, their return to the Donington stage in 1987 was never likely to eclipse the sheer energy of their debut appearance. New numbers such as Dream Evil and Naked in the Rain show Dio holding steady rather than racing ahead. That said, the band – complete with new guitarist Craig Goldy on his maiden show – are as razor-sharp and rampant as four years previously, riding high on the huge successes of the intervening period.
This double-disc is a trip down memory lane, one disc recordings from 1983, the second from 1987. There’s a fair bit of track duplication between both recordings but, with Vivian Campbell strutting his stuff in 1983 and the aforementioned Goldy taking over in 1987, there’s also plenty of contrast.
Line-up:
- Ronnie James Dio / Vocals
- Vivian Campbell / Guitar (CD1)
- Craig Goldy / Guitar (CD2)
- Jimmy Bain / Bass
- Vinny Appice / Drums
- Claude Schnell / Keyboards
Track List:
CD1 (1983)
01. Stand Up And Shout – 3:49
02. Straight Through The Heart – 4:49
03. Children Of The Sea – 6:15
04. Rainbow In The Dark – 4:38
05. Holy Diver – 5:08
06. Drum Solo – 0:41
07. Stargazer – 1:42
08. Guitar Solo – 1:38
09. Heaven And Hell (Long Live Version) – 11:05
10. Man On The Silver Mountain – 3:32
11. Starstruck – 0:47
12. Man On The Silver Mountain (Reprise) – 2:29
CD2 (1987)
01. Dream Evil – 4:56
02. Neon Knights – 4:43
03. Naked In The Rain – 7:28
04. Rock And Roll Children – 2:46
05. Long Live Rock And Roll – 4:39
06. The Last In Line – 4:12
07. Children Of The Sea – 1:22
08. Holy Diver – 1:27
09. Heaven And Hell (Long Live Version) – 3:18
10. Man On The Silver Mountain – 4:28
11. All The Fools Sailed Away – 4:23
12. The Last In Line (Reprise) – 1:11
13. Rainbow In The Dark – 5:11
Link in comments.
Nemrud – Journey of the Shaman (2010) (@256)
21 Dec 2011
Thanks to OzOz for the review contribution.
(Review from progarchives.com, amazon)
Nemrud hails from Turkey, led by Mert Gocay who is behind the most of the compositions and lyrics. Mert Gocay was running the Turkish Eloy website for many years and a friend of Eloy’s Frank Bornemann. Inevitably there is a huge Eloy influence in Nemrud’s music.
The band blends progressive rock elements with many variations of psychedelic/space rock and adding some nice melodic eastern flavors. The songs bear a blend of relaxed and uptempo moments which are comprising many repetitive patterns.
Their debut, “Journey of the Shaman” is a concept album. According to shamanism all man on earth has to go through the underworld to reach the sky. There are three long cuts on the album timing between 12-17 minutes. Each cut tells the story of this journey: the earth, underworld and the sky.
Part 1 basically starts Eloy oriented in a more relaxed manner. Decent synths coupled with acoustic guitar are reminding of Pink Floyd in between. Heavy riffing guitars and minimoog excursions open Part 2 but it soon changes to a melancholic touch due to acoustic guitar and fretless bass. Part 3, offers a nice trancy start which then evolves to a groovy behaviour step by step including sparkling e-piano, additionally decorated with Gocay’s riffs and excellent organ input.
Line-up:
- Mert Gocay / guitar, vocals
- Harun Sonmez / drums, cymbals
- Aycan Sari / bass
with
- Mert Topel / keyboards
- Hakan Suersan / bass, fretless bass
- Dogac Titiz / drums
Track List:
01. Part I – 15:50
a. In The World Of Dreams
b. Beginning Of Divine Inspiration
c. Revival
d. A Stone In The Ocean
02. Part II – 12:00
a. A Farewell To Sun
b. Fly To Underground Without The Past
c. Fight With The Evil Spirits
03. Part III – 17:20
a. A Journey To Innerself
b. Scourge Of Nemrud
c. In All Stages Of Immortality
d. Jump To Final Dimension Through The Seventh Sky
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Forevermore (2011) (@256)
16 Dec 2011
Thanks to OzOz for the review contribution.
(Review from hardrockhaven.net, geeksofdoom.com, dangerdog.com)
“Forevermore” is Whitesnake’s 11th studio album, coming out in 2011. It faithfully follows the same pattern as their previous album, 2008′s “Good to be Bad”, meaning it wisely and effortlessly meshes together the various eras of Whitesnake’s history.
Coverdale, singing in a lower register since he can no longer hit the notes of old, and your expectations for this album should be filtered through that fact.
More than compensating for the standard issue vocals is some stupendously strong guitar work. There is simply nothing negative that can be written about the twin axe attack launched by Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach. These two rock legends play with such scorching energy that it’s a wonder they don’t melt the strings.
The whole feel of the album is warm and organic without crossing the line into artificial gloss and glitz, allowing the melodic edges to really shine.
With few exceptions, this is solid Whitesnake. With the blues-based formula, while inventing nothing new, this is one impressive and hard rocking album.
There’s life in the old snake yet.
Line-up:
- David Coverdale / vocals
- Doug Aldrich / guitars
- Reb Beach / guitars
- Michael Devin / bass
- Brian Tichy / drums
Track List:
01. Steal Your Heart Away – 5:18
02. All Out Of Luck – 5:27
03. Love Will Set You Free – 3:51
04. Easier Said Than Done – 5:12
05. Tell Me How – 4:40
06. I Need You (Shine A Light) – 3:48
07. One Of These Days – 4:52
08. Love & Treat Me Right – 4:13
09. Dogs In The Street – 3:47
10. Fare Thee Well – 5:17
11. Whipping Boy Blues – 5:01
12. My Evil Ways – 4:32
13. Forevermore – 7:21
14. Whipping Boy Blues (SWAMP MIX) – 5:58
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Live at Donington 1990 (@256)
15 Dec 2011
Thanks to OzOz for the review contribution.
(Review from hardrockhaven.net)
Recorded during the tour in support of Slip of the Tongue, Live at Donington 1990 showcases the band at the end of their decade of huge popularity, celebrating the glitz and glamor that was eighties metal. Add to that the fact that this tour boasted the insane guitar pairing of Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, and the result is a great live Whitesnake release.
The set list covers everything one would expect from a mid-period Whitesnake show. In addition to the then-new album material, we get the pre-metal, sex-heavy classics (“Slide It In,” and “Slow and Easy”) the band’s first major UK hit (“Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City”) and of course, MTV favorites “Is This Love”, “Here I Go Again” and “Still of the Night”. While fans of the first two Coverdale solo LPs and bluesy early Whitesnake may feel the set is a bit too 1980s heavy, considering the impact both the self-titled record and their latest album had, it’s still a great celebration of the band at its popularity peak.
Musically, there is nothing to complain about. Vai and Vandenberg both exemplify 1980s shred excess, but both also understand the need to pull things back at times. Even the more blues-influenced songs retain their original vibes, which is surprising.
This album just proves that even as the musicians get older, good music truly doesn’t age.
Line-up:
- David Coverdale / vocals
- Steve Vai / guitar
- Adrian Vandenberg / guitar
- Rudy Sarzo / bass
- Tommy Aldridge / drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Slip Of The Tongue – 6:52
02. Slide It In – 5:02
03. Judgement Day – 5:55
04. Slow & Easy – 8:11
05. Kittens Got Claws – 4:58
06. Adagio For Strato – 3:00
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie – 3:53
08. Is This Love – 4:45
09. Chaep & Nasty – 4:20
10. Crying In The Rain – 13:27
CD2
01. Fool For Your Loving – 6:01
02. For The Love Of God – 5:12
03. The Audience Is Listening – 3:01
04. Here I Go Again – 5:42
05. Bad Boys – 6:16
06. Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City – 8:26
07. Still Of The Night – 7:59
Link in comments.
No More Mr Hotfile Guy
15 Dec 2011
Hotfile has been descending for the last year, following their trials in the US. Finally they have terminated my account too, making all the albums in the blog unavailable through their fileserver.
Not to worry though, Filesonic and Rapidshare mirrors are still active.
Jeronimo – Time Ride (1972) (@256)
23 Nov 2011
(Review from amazon, Cosmic Dreams at Play)
Band’s swansong of a total of three lp’s – this platter initially saw the light of day in 1972.
Highlights include the great guitar work of the title cut “Time Ride”, the six-minute “There Are People”, “Indian River”, the (sort of) tripping “Do You Remember” and “Ice Dream”.
When Jeronimo broke up, Ringo Funk became the drummer of Atlantis.
Line-up:
- Ringo Funk / drums & vocals
- Michael Koch / guitars
- Gunnar Schafer / bass guitar
Track List:
01. Time Ride – 3:55
02. There Are People – 6:37
03. Blind Man – 4:22
04. To Be Alone – 5:34
05. Sunshine – 3:36
06. Indian River – 5:25
07. Do You Still Remember – 3:46
08. Ice Dream – 3:25
09. Gone – 4:21
10. Kind Of Feelin’ – 3:36
Link in comments.
Jeronimo – Jeronimo (1971) (@256)
22 Nov 2011
(Review from Cosmic Dreams at Play)
With their second album, the band has now developed a common direction – heavy guitar-based boogie blues and rock’n'roll, much like a cross between Creedence Clearwater Revival and Groundhogs at their best!
Presenting much vitality and hard rock dexterity in straight-forward songs, highlights include “Understanding”, “Shades” (A & B sides of a single lifted from the album) and “Sunday Child”.
Line-up:
- Rainer Marz / guitar
- Gunnar Schafer / bass, vocals
- Manfred “Ringo” Funk / drums, percussion, vocals
- Michael Koch / guitar, vocals
Track List:
01. Sunday’s Child – 4:23
02. Shades – 3:21
03. Reminiscensis – 1:03
04. How I’d Love To Be Home – 4:30
05. End Of Our Time – 4:08
06. Understanding – 4:06
07. Silence Of The Night – 3:36
08. Hagudila – 7:46
09. You Know I Do – 5:27
10. Kind Of Feelin’ – 3:38
11. Save Our Souls (SOS) – 3:30
Link in comments.
Jeronimo – Cosmic Blues (1970) (@256)
20 Nov 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
The German band Jeronimo was founded in 1969 and soon after had their first two hits “He Ya” and “Na Na Hey Hey”. With these two chartbreakers, Jeronimo climbed to the number 1 position in almost all European countries.
Their debut album kicks off like a cross between Cream and the Kinks, with maybe a dash of Hawkwind. The opener, “News” is an energetic tour-de-force of magnificently tight and heavy rifferama. The gruff baritone vocals with constant backing harmony flow like gravel-line treacle over riffs with balls and drums on fire.
A heavy piano-driven riff propels “The Key” through a coarse, whiskey-soaked, yet soulful and impassioned bluesy vocal.
The guitar tone and snarl on “Highjack” attracts attention, though – more menacing than Black Sabbath, there is pure essence of heavy metal running through this song – with the high-pitched screams giving a feel of a heavier sound.
Number Five’s rhythm guitar tone is sooo heavy for the time – but that’s the most interesting thing about this song until it hits the instrumental section and the changes begin. The final tempo change is masterly, with fine double bass drum work and great rhythmic improv.
Another highlight, “Light Live Needs” is another complete stylistic U-turn, with a strong Abbey Road feel underneath the Dylan-esque vocals – very well written and executed, with a fun two-guitar duet section, it’s quite clear which market this song was written for. The boogie-woogie outro is cut off well before it has a chance to get anywhere near its prime and gives a tantalising insight into just how good this band might have been live.
Line-up:
- Gunnar Schafer / vocals, bass guitar
- Rainer Marz / guitars
- Walter Ortel / keyboards, vocals
- Ringo Funk / drums
Track List:
01. News – 3:03
02. The Key – 3:02
03. Hands – 2:40
04. So Nice To Know – 2:04
05. Na Na Hey Hey – 3:39
06. Let The Sunshine In – 1:59
07. Highjack – 2:59
08. Number 5 – 5:24
09. No No No – 3:54
10. Never Goin’ Back – 2:39
11. The Light Life Needs – 2:16
12. Heya – 3:30
13. Na Na Hey Hey Freemix – 5:53
Link in comments.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Live At Nassau Coliseum 1978 (@256)
19 Nov 2011
(Review from allmusic)
Recorded in February of 1978, this performance was only available as a bootleg until it was expertly cleaned up, resulting in one of the best-sounding live ELP records on the market.
The two-disc live set captures Emerson, Lake & Palmer at a crucial point in their careers: they were on their final tour, and though things would soon turn sour, these recordings show that on-stage they were still at the peak of their powers. The previous year, they released the two-volume Works, which exemplified the degree to which the three men were moving in different directions by giving each member an LP side to himself. On the night this recording was made, they delivered a phenomenal performance of material from all across their career.
There are the Greg Lake-centric melodic ballads, like “Take a Pebble” and “Lucky Man”, where the singer’s big, bold voice sounds unassailably excellent; instrumentals like “Hoedown,” where Keith Emerson stretches out and shows his keyboard mastery in no uncertain terms, and perhaps most impressive, we get such epics as “Tarkus”, “Pictures at an Exhibition” and “Pirates”, where all three players shine both individually and as an ensemble.
When they are playing off of and responding to each other the way they do here, the band gives listeners the chance to experience ELP’s awesome interplay with an unprecedented level of vividness.
Line-up:
- Keith Emerson / keyboards
- Greg Lake / vocals, bass, electric & acoustic guitar
- Carl Palmer / drums, percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Hoedown – 4:46
02. Tarkus – 17:28
03. Take A Pebble – 3:13
04. Piano Concerto #1, 1st Movement – 5:21
05. Maple Leaf Rag – 1:29
06. Take A Pebble (reprise) – 2:54
07. C’est La Vie – 4:20
08. Lucky Man – 3:22
09. Pictures At An Exhibition – 15:37
CD2
01. Tiger In A Spotlight – 4:05
02. Watching Over You – 4:37
03. Tank – 2:12
04. Drum Solo – 6:49
05. The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits – 2:45
06. Nutrocker – 3:48
07. Pirates – 13:31
08. Fanfare For The Common Man – 11:35
Link in comments.
Jacksons Garden – How Do I Get Into Jacksons Garden (1968) (@256)
17 Nov 2011
(Review from rockmedrynker.dk)
The Jacksons Garden formed as The Candy Boys in Odense Denmark round 1965, September 1967 changed their name to Jackson’s Garden.
Jacksons Garden played in the beginning mainly on Funen and Jutland, but in October 1967 the band took part and won a competition, securing a record contract. The resulting was this sole LP, “How do I get into Jacksons Garden?”.
Their style was a mix of Soul, R & B, Beat & Roll, they had also many of self-composed songs. Jacksons Garden quickly became very popular with the burgeoning on underground audience that had enjoyed their share of the traditional 1960s music and was hungry for something new.
Until February 1969, when Jacksons Garden disbanded, the band were full speed and always on the highways for gigs.
Line-up:
- Eric Werner (Andersen) / lead vocals, harmonica
- Bent Hangard / lead guitar
- Erling Andersen – bass, vocals
- Per Stan – drums
- H.P. Sondergard – piano, organ, flute (01-12)
Track List:
01. Jump The Fence – 0:21
02. Turn On Your Lovelight – 3:35
03. Coloured Birds – 2:29
04. Close To The Earth, But.. – 7:54
05. Paddington Station – 4:06
06. Morning After – 2:34
07. Nobody – 4:07
08. Work Song – 4:14
09. Tales From A Nervous Wreck – 4:15
10. Goodmorning Blues – 6:03
11. Fever – 4:38
12. Harlem City Blues – 3:08
13. Pretty Woman (Bonus Live) – 2:33
14. Love Me Two Times (Bonus Live) – 3:23
15. John Wesley Harding (Bonus Live) – 2:51
16. Help Me Baby (Bonus Live) – 3:20
17. Bummer In The Summer (Bonus Live) – 3:45
18. All Night Long (Bonus Live) – 5:10
19. Butterfly Fly (Bonus Live) – 10:35
Link in comments.
Helloween – Live In The UK (1989) (@256)
16 Nov 2011
Request of OzOz.
(Review from metal-archives.com, allmusic)
By taking the hard riffing and minor-key melodies handed down from metal masters like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, then infusing them with the speed and energy introduced by the burgeoning thrash metal movement, Helloween crystallized the sonic ingredients of what is now known as power metal.
This concert was recorded in late 1988 in Scotland, when Helloween were at the peak of their career and is the last recording featuring legendary guitarist and songwriter Kai Hansen. From the first song to the last, the band plays with a lot of energy and emotion.
The highlight of this album is the last track “How Many Tears”. A lengthy (9 minutes long) epic and really fast track, filled with double-bass drumming, which offers some great tempo changes. It starts of furiously with Ingo pounding his drums in insane speed, while never lifting his feet from the double-bass. Soon the vocals come in and the song really elevates to epic proportions. Emotional mid range vocals and perfectly clear and strong high pitched vocal delivery by Michael Kiske who sings lyrics surrounding warfare and human suffering. After the outstanding chorus a technical twin guitar solo commences which around the 3:40 minute mark brakes down to a very slow, wonderfully played harmonic part. Wonderfully executed and emotional guitar solos give way to a thunderous drum fill at 5:45 that brings back the initial speed of the song and keeps that pace until the melodic ending.
“A Little Time” is the opening track, a mid paced heavy metal number, with a catchy chorus, a varied vocal performance and lyrics describing the shortage of time in our lives. “Dr. Stein” is one of Helloween’s most commercial songs and a crowd favourite, catchy guitar riffs, high pitched vocals, great guitar solos and funny lyrics dealing with rock star-cloning. The extended version of “Future World” follows next. Another crowd favourite, characterised by a strong guitar riff a great sing along chorus, lyrics dealing with a utopian-fantasy place, includes a brake in the middle of the song were the band jams some rock and roll melodies and then the crowd sings along for a while. “I Want Out” is probably Helloween’s most universally known track and a classic heavy metal anthem, consisting of catchy riffs and guitar leads, some great twin-guitar harmonies and solos and a powerful chorus.
Although all band members are in top form, especially guitarists Hansen and Weikath who play wonderfully showing all their wares, vocalist Michael Kiske is the star of the night! Throughout the whole concert his voice reaches to the heavens, hitting high-pitched notes with such emotion and precision. Especially his outstanding performance in the track “We Got The Right” is breathtaking. This mid paced power ballad shows the depth, emotion, range and charisma of the vocals this 19 year old (back in 1988) possessed.
The only drawback of the album is that it is rather short (52 minutes) and the set list which leaves out the band’s many popular epics.
Line-up:
- Michael Kiske / vocals
- Kai Hansen / guitar
- Michael Weikath / guitar
- Markus Grosskopf / bass guitar
- Ingo Schwichtenberg / drums
Track List:
01. A Little Time – 6:31
02. Dr. Stein – 5:22
03. Future World – 8:55
04. Rise And Fall – 4:50
05. We Got The Right – 6:07
06. I Want Out – 5:43
07. How Many Tears – 9:54
Link in comments.
Siena Root – Different Realities (2009) (@256)
15 Nov 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
It’s clear that Siena Root’s main influence are more in the early 1970s heavy rock ala Zeppelin, Purple, Heep and Sabbath but their mix and songwriting makes their soundscapes definitely proggier than their influences.
There are only two “sidelong” suites, each clocking a normal vinyl side (roughly 25′) and composed of four and six movements respectively. The A- sidelong track is called “We” and is the only one featuring (often effect-laden) vocals and lyrics (most of it in the first movement) and a tiny bit at its close, and there are some Mid-Eastern and Indian overtones spread throughout the “epic”, namely some Arabian ambiances in the Desert movement. The music is moody, sometimes a bit hazy, slightly more “progressive” than “psych” and never boring.
The “flipside” track starts out more Sabbath-y (as in slightly doomy) and if you listen well, you’ll hear imbedded in the loud guitar grunts, some hurdy-gurdy, before the sitar, darbuka, tzouras and qaraqab and step in to evoke the Agartha/Raagmala realm. This “epic”, while still complex is definitely more psych and jam-like than its companion piece.
Line-up:
- KG West / lead guitar, organ, sitar, Rhodes, Mellotron
- Sam Riffer / bass, percussion, vocals, double bass
- Love H Forsberg / drums, percussion
- Sartez Faraj (Abdulrahman) / lead vocals, guitar
- Sanya / vocals
Track List:
01. We Are Them – 10:36
02. In The Desert – 3:13
03. Over The Mountains – 7:42
04. As We Return – 4:00
05. Bairagi – 4:04
06. Bhairavi – 3:28
07. Ahir Bhairav – 3:44
08. Bhimpalasi – 1:24
09. Shree – 2:27
10. Jog – 10:17
Link in comments.
Siena Root – Far From the Sun (2008) (@256)
14 Nov 2011
(Review from ripplemusic)
The band’s third album starts off with “Dreams of Tomorrow”, cowbell plunking into the opening hard rocking riff. Within seconds, you know you’re in for something special. The riff, as simple as it is, still rocks with passion, and when the band zeroes into the groove, it becomes transcendent.
Faraj’s lead vocals are laced with the soulful edge of a young Paul Rogers while KG West’s lead fills sear through the disc like a laser show at the planetarium. This song is an immediate head bobber, subtly familiar in all the right places, yet new and fresh and infused with loving enthusiasm.
The crew break out the sitar for “Waiting for the Sun” and drop into a massive Jefferson Airplane vibe. Listen for that full-on Purple organ breakdown 2/3′s of the way, slashing back to the sitar, breaking down to a solo guitar playing the main riff, then the full band coming back in and locking into their groove.
“Time Will Tell”, brings on a more muscular riff, perhaps a lost page from a Free album. Soaring lead guitars tears through the opening before the Purple organ comes crashing back in, adding texture to the riff, filling it out. “Almost There”, begins with a stuttering riff leading to a full-on rocking bridge before the chorus literally rises from the disc to inhabit some time and space beyond definition.
This is full-on, groove, heavy retro-rock and roll, so deeply enamored with its influences. The entire album has an undeniable free form feeling to it, space created to allow lots of hallucinogenic jamming, but never at the expense of structure.
Line-up:
- KG West / lead guitar, organ, sitar, Rhodes, Mellotron
- Sam Riffer / bass, percussion, vocals, double bass
- Love H Forsberg / drums, percussion
- Sartez Faraj (Abdulrahman) / lead vocals, guitar
- Sanya / vocals
Track List:
01. Dreams Of Tomorrow – 3:08
02. Waiting For The Sun – 5:57
03. Time Will Tell – 5:49
04. Almost There – 7:49
05. Two Steps Backwards – 3:30
06. Wishing For More – 3:43
07. The Summer Is Old – 7:59
08. The Break Of Dawn – 4:38
09. Long Way From Home – 10:10
Link in comments.
Siena Root – Live at Rockpalast (2006) (@Video)
13 Nov 2011
This is Siena Root’s gig at the Crossroads festival in Bonn, at the Rockpalast on March 24th, 2006.
Track List:
01. Ridin’ Slow
02. Shine
03. Blues 276
04. Mountain I
05. There and Back Again
06. Reverberations
07. The Rat
08. Coming Home
Video: H264, 720×576, 25 fps
Audio: MP3, @192
Links in comments.
Siena Root – Kaleidoscope (2006) (@256)
12 Nov 2011
(Review from psychemusic.org, aural-innovations.com)
Siena Root is back with their second full length album and a new vocalist.
The album contains the same great songwriting as the bands debut, but this one is a bit bluesier and more psychedelic and has a killer analog sound to it, making it really sound old in a way but with super fresh compositions.
“Good and Bad” opens it with a hard hitting blues riff and a jam straight away. “Nightstalker” features Hammond organ keeps the sound rocking and fresh.
“Bhairavi Dhun” is a terrific psychedelic / progressive sitar (and Indian flute) crossover ragarock track, with an exhalariting pulse. “Crossing the stratosphere” is a track that starts like a weird semi-acoustic filmic experiment with echoing percussion and electronica until it pulls the listener back in into more guitar driven rock and hardrock. Here some organ takes the lead too.
“There and Back Again” is the shortest track here and is a straight up rocker with organ, a lot like some of the tracks from the debut. “Ridin’ Slow” has a killer blues groove and riff and the band really takes off on this amazing track.
The album ends with the hightlight, “Reverberations” — a lead improvisation between organ and flute, yet the whole band participates. Near the end some clarinets makes the improvisation as a middle eastern melody for the snake in the cascet-goes-mad. Terrific.
Line-up:
- Sanya / vocals
- KG West / lead guitar, organ, sitar, Rhodes, Mellotron
- Sam Riffer / bass, percussion, vocals, double bass
- Love H Forsberg / drums, percussion
- Sartez Faraj (Abdulrahman) / lead vocals, guitar
Track List:
01. Good and Bad – 7:56
02. Nightstalker – 4:35
03. Blues 276 – 3:45
04. Bhairavi Dhun – 9:10
05. Crossing the stratosphere – 4:14
06. There and back again – 3:31
07. Ridin’ slow – 6:01
08. Reverberations – 11:48
Link in comments.
